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Rfn. Joseph Alfred Taylor
British Army 3rd Btn. Rifle Brigade
from:5 Sadler Street, Clerkenwell
Joseph Alfred Taylor Rifleman was my maternal grandfather. I have been given his pay book, pow card and section d reserve discharge papers from my Auntie. My Mum also had his photo. He was born in 1895 and lived in Clerkenwell, Islington. He was married to Hanna Simpson. They lived in Rawstone Street, Clerkenwell and later moved to Sadlers Street (now demolished ) but off Lloyds Row ( near the famous Sadlers Wells Theatre).
The first entry on his pay book is July 1916,(in the field) which suggests to me the Somme Offensive. On 28/7/1917 he was captured wounded (gassed) and taken to Limburg POW camp. He survived the war and went on to serve in section D reserves. He suffered ill health as a result of the gassing and died in 1931 (gastric ulcers) when my mum was just 8 years old. Joseph was reported as captured on 28th July 1917 around the opening of the 3rd Battles of Ypres. This coincided with the early uses of Mustard Gas by the Germans.
